Connecter



v 9, 1932- G. M. BARROW 1,870,790

CONNECTER Filed Jan. 22. 1931 E U /Z'-f 8 ./Z

WITNESSESI 'NVENTOR m firm. George M Barrow LMW M ATTORNEY Patented Aug.9, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE enoaen M. BARBOW, or DERBY,PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR 'ro WESTINGHOUSEELEC- TRIO & MANUFACTURINGCOMPANY, A. CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA CONN ECTER Application filedJanuary 22, 1931. Serial No. 510,451.

My invention relates to connecters and particularly to means forconnecting highvoltage suspension insulator units.

An object of my invention is to reduce corona formation in high-voltageinsulators.

Another object of my invention is to provide a combinedload-resisting'and connecter-elementpositioning means for an insulator.

Another object of-my invention is to provide a clevis structure, thecooperating pin for which may be inserted-from, and held inpredetermined position at, either side of the clevis.

Another object of my invention is to provide a pin-and-clevis structurethat shall ensure assembly of the parts thereof only in a predeterminedrelation.

Another object of my invention is to provide pin-and-clevis elements forpredetermined relation to each other that shall be interchangeable withclevises and pins, respectively, that are not so adapted.

A further object of my invention is to provide a device of theabove-indicated character that shall be simple and durable inconstruction, economical to manufacture and effective in its operation.

In high-voltage suspension insulators of the cap-and-pin type embodyingeyes and clevises for connecting the series-related units thereof, it iscustomary toemploy cotters or, as more commonly called, cotter-pins forpreventing the withdrawal of the main connecting pins that connect theeyes and clevises between the units. The cotter, in the form of areturn-bent wire, has a rounded head or loop at one end. The free endsof the two-part shank are adapted to be spread apart, after insertion ofthe cotter through a transverse or radial opening in the main orconnecting pin.

Since the main pins have plain cylindrical shanks, in the structures ofthe usual type,

the cotters may assume any angular position about theatres of the main.pins, either at the time of insertion or afterwards, as a result ofvibration of the structure.

When the bipartite cotter shanks assume a vertical position or aposition in the direcears at right angles The tangent plane shouldersurfaces may be tion of the insulator axis, since the free ends thereofare relatively sharp and directly in the strong electrostatic field ofthe insulator,

they initiate corona which charges the atmosphere immediately adjacentto the insulator and causes ultimate breakdown before it would otherwiseoccur.

It is my aim to-overcome the above-mentioned objection in a manner inwhich I have found the flashover characteristics of an in- 6b sulator tobe substantially improved and, accordingly, in practicing my invention,I construct the clevis and the pin so that they and,

consequently the cotter, may each assume but one position in which theelectrostatic field isleast disturbed. v

Figure 1, of the accompanying drawing, is a side view, partially inelevation and par tially in section, of an insulator structure embodyingmy invention, and

Figs. 2 and 3 are similar views at right angles to Fig. 1, of oppositesides of a portion of the structure shown in that figure.

The insulator proper, constituting no'part of my present invention asidefrom its gen eral cooperation with the parts thereof, is ofa usual type,comprising a metal cap 2, a dielectric member 1 and a metal pin 6.

The closedor transverse end-wall 8 of the cap 2 constitutes a base towhich are preferably integrally united clevis ears 10 extending in thedirection of the insulator load axis. Elements 12, also preferablyintegrallyunited to the wall 8 and to the cars 10, reinforce the baseends of the ears and have preferably plane surfaces substantiallytangent to' the cylindrical openings in the clevis to the insulatoraxis.

at other angles, disposed farther away from the clevis openings and theparts otherwise shaped andrelated. Also, one of the elements 12 may beomitted.

A connecter pin comprises a preferably 7y cylindrical shank portion 14:having an opening for the reception of a cotter 16, adjacent to one end,and a flange or head portion. 18 at its other end. The head 18, for thegreater portion of 7 its perimeter, is greater in radlus than thedistance from the axis of 1G9 the clevis apertures to the plane surfacesof the elements 12, but has a plane transverse surface of slightly lessthan this distance which may be placed over, or in register with, theplane surfaces of one of the elements 12. The opening in the shank 14for the cotter 16 is, in this instance, parallel to the abovementionedplane surfaces, in the operative position of the parts. The cotter, insuch position, is transverse to the longitudinal axis of the insulatorand both ends of the cotter are in a mid-position farther removed fromthe next adjacent upper insulator unit than they would be in thevertical or longitudinal position of the cotter. The electrostatic fieldof a series of such insulators is usually stronger just beneath itsunits and it is the ends of the cotter, particularly the free or spreadends 20 thereof, which disturb this field.

By the construction, the elements 12 reenforce the ears 10, the shank14: may be placed in the clevis from either side but may not be soplaced except in proper position, and the cotter 16 is initially placed,and maintained, in its most advantageous position both for its receptioninto the shank 14 and for offering minimum disturbance to the field.

The pin 14 may be employed as an ordinary pin in other devices and anordinary pin may also, beemployed in the clevis for supporting theinsulator in emergency.

anddescribed a par- While I have shown tioular form of my invention,changes may be effected therein without departing from the spirit andscope thereof, as set. forth in the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

7 1. In combination, a member having an aperture therethrough and ashoulder at one side adjacent, to said aperture, and a pin in saidaperture having a head at said side and an opening at the other side ofsaid member, said head having a shoulder cooperating with said firstshoulder to maintain a cotter in said opening in predetermined position.

2. In combination, a member having an aperture therethrough andshoulders disposed one at each side of the member adjacent to saidaperture, and a pin for insertion in either direction through saidaperture having a head at one side and an opening at the other side ofsaid member, said head having a shoulder for cooperation with either ofsaid first shoulders to maintain a cotter in said opening inpredetermined position.

3. In combination, a clevis having shoulders associated one with eachear thereof, and a pin for insertion in either direction through theclevis having a head at one side and an opening at the other sidethereof, said head having a shoulder for cooperation with either of saidfirst shoulders to maintain a cotter in said opening in predeterminedposition.

4. In combination, an insulator including a member having an aperturetherethrough transverse to the insulator axis and a shoulder at one sideadjacent to said aperture, and a pin in said aperture having a head atone side of said member and an opening at the other side thereoftransverse to said axis and to the axis of the pin, said head having ashoulder cooperating with said first shoulder to maintain a cotter insaid opening in predetermined electrical relation to the insulator.

5. In combination, a suspension insulator including a cap, a clevis onthe cap and a shoulder adjacent to one side of the clevis, and a pin inthe clevis having a head at one side and an opening at the other sidethereof,

said head having a shoulder cooperating with,

said first shoulder to maintain a cotter in said opening in positiontransverse to the insulator axis.

6. In combination, a suspension insulator including a cap having anintegral clevis and an integral shoulder, said shoulder having a planesurface, and a pin in the clevis having a head at one side and anopening at the other side thereof, said head having a plane surfacecooperating with the plane surface of said shoulder to hold a cotter insaid opening at substantially right angles to the in sulator axis.

7. In combination, a suspension insulator including a metal cap ofsubstantially cupshape having an integral clevis on the closed end ofthe cap and integral shoulders associated one with the outside of eachear of the clevis, said shoulders extending between theapertures in theclevis and the closedend wall of the cap and having plane surfaces atsubstantially right angles to the insulator axis next to said apertures,and a cylindrical pin substantially filling said apertures having a headportion at one side of apertures and a radial through opening at theother side of the clevis, said head having a transverse plane surfaceparallel to said through opening for adjacent parallelplane relation toone of said first plane surfaces to maintain a cotter in said throughopening at substantially right angles to said axis.

8. In combination, a suspension insulator including a cap having anintegral clevis and an integral shoulder, said shoulder having a planesurface transverse to the pin apertures'in the clevis adjacent to one ofsaid apertures at one side of the clevis, and a pin in the clevis havinga head at said side and an opening at the other side of the clevis, saidhead being in the form of a lateral flange extending a greater distancefrom the axis of v the clevis preventing its passage through said saidopening than said shoulder surface and having e plane surface fordisposition over said shoulder surface in an operative position of thepin.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name this 19th dayof January,

GEORGE M. BABROW.

